Love, marriage, and legal dispute in Hosea and in Philippine society

Abstract

In this study the writer wants to cast light upon a specific set of Hoseanic and Philippine values: love, marriage, and legal dispute. To do this he is con- ducting an in-depth study of the prophet Hosea's use of love, marriage, and legal dispute, the result of which, will be used to analyze the same set of Philippine values. Conversely, however, the Philippine value system will throw its own light on Hosea. It is especially appropriate to begin with Hosea because he belongs to the first generation of literary prophets (8th century Israel) and is in many respects constitutive for all subsequent prophets. Also, Hosea, unlike any other prophet in the canonical OT, offers a constellation of love (ahabh), marriage (lch ishah), and legal dispute (rib) in Chapters 1-4 of his book that is rich in comparative and contrasting material applicable to 20th century Philippine situation. The goal of this study is to construct a profile of Hosea's vision of love, marriage, and legal dispute- both as an individual expression and as a group (though the emphasis is on the former) - in order to set it side by side with, a similar profile of the 20th century Filipino attitudes and values on the interconnection between love, marriage, and legal dispute - both as an individual expression and as a group (though the emphasis is on the former) - in order to set its side by side with a similar profile of the 20th century Filipino attitudes and values on the interconnection between love, marriage, and legal dispute.